Protestant Traditions & the Soul of Europe
9th Comenius Conference of Protestant Theological Faculties from Central and
Eastern Europe, the Netherlands and Belgium
Amsterdam (The Netherlands), 25-28 June 2014
(9. Konferenz Niederländisch-sprachlicher und Mittelosteuropäischer theologischen Fakultäten –
Amsterdam, Niederlande; 25.-28. Juni 2014)
Conference address: VU University/PThU, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, 1st floor
(PThU facilities).
Wednesday 25th June 2014
Till 17.00
Arrival
17.15 – 18.00 Welcome and introduction to the conference program
18.00 – 19.30 Dinner
19.30 – 20.30 Opening lecture
Protestantism and the Formation of European Culture in Contemporary Research
Prof. Dr. Gijsbert van den Brink, VU University Amsterdam
Chair: Prof. Henk de Roest
Thursday 26th June 2014
9.00 Morning service
Dr. Wolter Rose
9.15 – 10.30 Workshop: Protestantism, Europe and Ecclesiology
Dr. Zsolt Görözdi, Reformed Theological Faculty, UJS Komarno
Die Kalvinistische Kirchenstruktur in einigen Postkommunistischen Länder
Prof. Dr. Leo J. Koffeman, PThU Amsterdam
Unity in (Reconciled) Diversity: A Protestant Contribution to Europe?
Chair: Prof. Gijsbert van den Brink
10.30 – 11.00 Coffee
11.00 – 11.45 Lecture: Protestantism and New Testament Exegesis
Mgr. Eliška Havelková, Charles University, Prague
Un-Lutherizing Paul: The Far-Reaching Individualization in Protestant Readings of Rom.4,14-16
Chair: Prof. Gerard den Hertog
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11.45 – 12.30 Lecture: Protestantism in Early Modern Europe
Dr. Herman Speelman, Kampen Theological University
Calvinism and the Beginning of Religious Plurality in Europe
Chair: Prof. Gerard den Hertog
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch
Afternoon
Chair: Prof. Johan Goud
13.30 – 14.45 Workshop: Protestantism and Early Modern Philosophy
Prof. Dr. Henk van den Belt, University of Groningen
John Calvin, the Internal Witness of the Spirit, and Modern Epistemology
Prof. Dr. Hans-Martin Kirn, Protestant Theological University, Groningen
Balthasar Bekkers “Betoverde Weereld”(1691-1693) und die theologische Frühaufklärung
14.45 – 15.15 Tea / Coffee
15.15 – 16.30 Workshop: Protestantism and Hegelian Philosophy
Dr. Olga Navrátilová, Charles University, Prague
Protestantism and the Modern European State in Hegel’s Political Philosophy
Dr. Henri A. Krop, Erasmus University, Rotterdam
The Protestant Principle from Hegel to Tillich
16.30 – 16.45 Short Break
16.45 – 17.30 Lecture: Protestantism and Ethics
Dr. Pieter H. Vos, Protestant Theological University, Amsterdam
Secularism and the Law of God: Calvin and Kierkegaard on Abraham’s Trial (Gen.22)
18.30 Conference Dinner
Friday 27th June 2014
Morning
9.00 Morning service
Dr. Jaap van Amersfoort
9.15 – 12.15 Lecture and workshops
Chair: Prof. Leo Koffeman
9.15 – 10.00 Lecture
Dr. Sander Luitwieler, Evangelical Theological Faculty, Leuven
A Protestant Perspective on the European Union
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10.00 – 10.30 Coffee Break
10.30 – 11.45 Workshop: Calvinism and State Authority
Prof. dr. Ad de Bruijne, Kampen Theological University
Calvinism, Europe and the Nation State
Prof. dr. Gerard C. den Hertog, Theological University Apeldoorn
The Primary Task of the Government according to John Calvin and Oliver O’Donovan
11.45 – 12.30 Lecture: Protestantism and Conflict Resolution
Dr. Jenö Kiss, Protestant Theological Institute, Cluj
Die Weltordnung und die ‘Seele Europa’s’
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch
Afternoon: Excursion
Evening
18.00 – 19.30 Dinner
19.30 – 20.45 Workshop: Protestant Churches in Contemporary Central/Eastern Europe
Dr. Peter Moree, Charles University, Prague
Protestant Churches in Central Europe and the End of Communism
Prof. Dr. Heleen Zorgdrager, PThU Amsterdam
Reports from the Conflict Zone: ‘Europe’ in the Political Theology of the Churches in Ukraine
Chair: Dr. Wolter Rose
20.45 – 21.30 Business Meeting & Brainstorm Next Conference (2016)
Saturday 28th June 2014
Morning
9.00 Morning service
Prof. Johan Goud
9.15 – 12.15 Lecture and workshops
Chair: Prof. Henk van den Belt
9.15-10.00 Lecture: Protestantism and the Danger of the Identity Question
Dr. Theo L. Hettema, Seminary of the Alliance of Free Evangelical Churches, Amsterdam
Protestantism is Not What Matters
10.00-10.30 Coffee
10.30-11.45 Workshop: Calvinism and the Arts
Dr. Yelena Mazour-Matusevich, University of Alaska Fairbanks
The Calvinist Stance towards Chaotic Modality
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Jasper Bosman MA, Kampen Theological University
European Modern Art Contributing to Neo-Calvinist Ecclesial Practices
11.45-12.30 Lecture: Calvinism and Economics
Dr. Willem van Vlastuin, VU University Amsterdam
Calvin, Weber and the Soul of Europe
12.30 – 13.30 Lunch
Afternoon
Chair: Dr. Jaap van Amersfoort
13.30 – 14.45 Workshop: Protestantism and Old Testament Exegesis
Dr. Elöd Hodossy-Takacs, Debrecen Reformed Theological University
Social Values, Old Testament Laws and Calvin’s Commentaries
Dr. Ibolya Balla, Reformed Theological Academy, Papa
Translation and Interpretation: Peter Juhasz (1536-1572) and the Hungarian Version of the Old Testament
14.45 – 15.00 Tea / Coffee
15.00 – 15.45 Closing Lecture: The Future of Protestant Theology
Prof. dr. Henk P. de Roest, PThU Groningen
Shaping a Societal Domain: The Ongoing Contribution of Protestant Theology
15.45 – 16.00 Closing of the Conference
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